Quenda (Isoodon obesulus fusciventer) is a sub-species of the Southern Brown Bandicoot. Quenda are classified as ‘Near Threatened.’1 They normally live in dense understorey around swamps and banksia and jarrah woodlands. 2 Quenda are common in the Perth Hills as there is still a lot of dense vegetation to provide habitat.
Quenda are medium size, weigh up to 1.5kg and grow to 35cm in length. They are about the same size as a rabbit! Their fur is grey-brown with short spiny blackish hairs and softer paler fur underneath.1 They have a long pointed nose, black eyes and small round ears. Quenda have long front claws which they used to dig for food such as bugs, tubers, and fungi. Their tail is short and can be fully or partially lost during fights with other quenda.
Source: https://www.healthywildlife.com.au/quenda-3/#/
Image Source: http://www.sjshire.wa.gov.au/news-and-events/news/2018-spring-quenda-count/
When I used to run camps we would often see these furry little creatures running around at night and would sing out to them before they scurried under the buildings or into the bush.
My favourite story was at dinner time on the last night of camp, the campers were tired after a long day out at the pools and enjoying their dinner of spaghetti bolognaise. Suddenly a camper ran out of the room without warning, a leader followed to make sure everything was alright and found the girl standing by the side of the dining hall just in time to see the spag bog make a second appearance for the night. Helping the young camper to clean up and make sure nothing serious was the matter they sat at a picnic table nearby. With the camper well looked after the leader returned to start cleaning up only to find a couple of Quenda’s chowing down on their free meal. Needless to say this story often comes up whenever tales of old camps come up.